Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5700’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 5700’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; single red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 5700’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5600’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,791

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,735

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,736

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7100’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,734

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7500’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,737

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 5700’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2011 of a unnamed selection of Helleborus niger, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 5700’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 5700’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have fewer leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers         whereas plants of the female parent selection have white-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5600’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5600’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5600’ have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ have light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7100’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7100’ in plant and growth habit as plants of the new Helleborus are more compact than and not as vigorous as plants of ‘COSEH 7100’.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7500’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ have white to light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘LEM 100’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,646. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘LEM 100’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘LEM 100’.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus flower earlier than plants of         ‘LEM 100’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 5700’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘COSEH 5700’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during December in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 14 months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus     ‘COSEH 5700’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus             niger, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             upright and mounding plant habit with flowers held within             and above the foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened             globular; moderately vigorous growth habit and low to             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 23.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 32 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically seven or occasionally nine             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 14.6 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 16.7 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 9.6 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly elliptic to obovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute to broadly acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Deeply serrate; moderately undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             NN137B and proximally, tinged with close to 187A. Developing             leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 138B and 147B;             venation, close to 178B. Fully developed leaflets, upper             surface: Darker than between 147A and N189A; venation, close             to 147B. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to             144A to 144B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8.4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm to             9 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A; proximally, close to 176A             to 176B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; flowers             slightly to moderately cupped; arranged solitary or in             clusters with about two flowers each; freely flowering habit             with about 24 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             mostly outwardly to slightly upright and slightly nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower from the late autumn             into the winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four months;             sepals persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: Close to 186C; venation, close to 64B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 9.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9.6 cm by 9.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.1 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 5.3 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate, moderately concave. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; moderately undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 186D to             lighter than 186D densely covered with fine dots, close to             64A to 64B and 186A; venation, similar to lamina color. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 186D to lighter than 186D             densely covered with fine dots, close to 64A to 64B and             186A; venation, similar to lamina color. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 75C to 75D densely covered with fine dots,             close to 61A and 187D; venation, similar to lamina color;             with development, close to 150D densely covered with fine             dots, close to 64C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             75B to 75C densely covered with fine dots, close to 59C and             61A; venation, similar to lamina color; with development,             close to 150D densely covered with fine dots, close to 64B             to 64C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length:             About 3 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Broadly acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Finely serrate;             moderately undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B to             137C; venation, similar to lamina. Color, lower surface:             Close to 138A to 138B; venation, close to 187A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to             11 mm. Aspect: About 10° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 144B; moderately to heavily covered with             fine dots, close to 183A to 183B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 144B heavily covered with fine dots, close to             between N186C and 200A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:             About 120. Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color:             Close to 186A. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform;             basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 4B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About five. Pistil length:             About 8 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length:             About 7.5 mm. Style color: Close to N186C. Ovary color:             Close to 150D. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per             flower: About 14. Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened. Texture and luster, inner             and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 151D and             towards the base, close to 144B. Color, mature, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 146D, distally, close to 151D and             proximally, close to 200B; with development, close to 146C,             distally, close to 13B and proximally, close to 152C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5700’ as illustrated and described. 